New Street Drug Causing Concern

In the midst of one of the worst drug epidemics in history, a new street drug has surfaced and is causing great concern throughout the U.S.

Already reported in most Ohio counties, alpha-PVP, nicknamed ‘flakka’ is an amphetamine-like drug, similar to ecstasy, but is stronger and lasts longer. CEO of Muskingum Behavioral Health, Steve Carell said its effects are devastating.

“It causes agitation, aggressive behavior, paranoia, and it really messes with the thought process, people who are using ‘flakka’ seem to have superhuman strength, one person is not going to take them down, it’s going to take a team of people to get them in control,” Carell said.

Flakka is also known to cause hallucinations and long-term kidney and muscle damage. The drug is a schedule 1 controlled substance, which is a federal offense in Ohio.

“This particular drug is going to cause law-enforcement fits, it’s going to cause healthcare and hospital fits, because these folks are probably going to have to be monitored 24-7 in hospitals to make sure they don’t hurt themselves or other people, police officers are going to have to go in teams to try and get these people under control,” Carell said.

Carell said he isn’t yet aware of any reports of ‘flakka’ here in Muskingum County.